City's bowling clubs 'could be facing closure'

PLAYERS LEAVING OVER THE STATE OF BOWLING GREENS

- SHANNON BROWN

PLYMOUTH bowling clubs say they have been left facing closure after reporting a lack of maintenance on their bowling greens. Members from two of the clubs who play at Central Park have said each club has lost members as a result of the 'unplayable' conditions of the green.

Team members have refused to play on one of the two pitches at Central Park, which has resulted in a clash of fixtures as three clubs struggle to use one pitch. Both greens are reported to be uneven and unwatered, with holes in the dirt, though they say one is significantly worse than the other.

This means that instead of the bowls running smoothly across the ground, players say they can bounce in unpredictable directions. Bowls players Dave Bray, Martin Curtis, and Derek Bartrop said other teams across the county have refused to play matches at Central Park, given the condition of the pitch.

Derek Bartrop, of Pennycross Sports Bowling club, said the club is having to seriously consider closing, given the number of people who have left. "We lost three people last year. This year, a further seven have said 'no way, I'm not going to play on that green," he said.